PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Atlas Kivi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Kivi
vs
Mendes

175 cm
22
160 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

168 cm
29
145 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Atlas Kivi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chad Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kivi scores with a jab to the body.
A combination from Kivi does no damage.
Kivi feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Mendess jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Mendes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kivi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mendes.
Sloppy strikes from Kivi. Those never looked like landing.

Kivi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mendes's guard.

Mendes throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Kivi escapes and throws Mendes's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Mendes gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Kivi seems to be working for a kimura but Mendes defends the submission attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kivi trying to control from half guard but Mendes is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendes looking for submissions off his back.
Mendes is not content to let Kivi control the position.
Kivi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mendes with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Kivi moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Mendes.
Kivi is staying tight to Mendes's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Kivi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mendes has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kivi lands a nice forearm strike.
Kivi has knee on belly and moves into mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mendes working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kivi is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Kivi has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Mendes's face.
Kivi cracks Mendes with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kivi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kivi landing strikes, looking to finish!

Mendes is rocked!

Mendes defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Kivi.
Mendes is still in real trouble! Can Kivi finish him?
Kivi loads up with a big shot that hurts Mendes! He's pulled Kivi in close but Kivi has postured up and lands more strikes. Can Mendes survive? More strikes from Kivi and Mendes is out! The ref jumps in to save him! Brutal ground and pound!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Atlas Kivi!